Endless Depths

Deep Water #1

by Thea Verdone

How far would you go to rescue the man you love? 

Cole Morrissey
A near death experience is just another Monday when you’re a crab fisherman, but my black cloud would make anyone nervous, let alone my husband. 

Morgan begged me to stay home this year, but I only have one rule in our marriage: I go where you go. 

It’s a decision that ruins us.

What happened broke me. I hurt the people I love, and I don’t know how to stop. That’s why I pushed Morgan away, and abandoned everyone else. 

But Morgan won’t let me go so easily, and I love him too much to let him drown with me. 

Why can’t he see that I’m not worth saving? 

Morgan Morrissey
When I vowed until death do us part, I meant it. Cole can kick me out and break my heart, but I won’t let him throw away our marriage.

Somewhere inside the stranger I no longer recognize is the boy who chased away the darkness after my parents died. I’ll save him from himself, whether he wants me to or not. 

Why else would I follow him onto the same one-hundred-foot crab boat I told him not to go on after he asked for a divorce? 

But man is no match for the Bering Sea, and if we’re not careful, death will keep our vows before Cole can break them. 

—
Endless Depths is an angsty MM romance perfect for fans of marriage in crisis, fractured found families, and a hard-fought happily ever after. It's the first book in the Deep Water series , featuring the fishermen of the Briar Anteros as they navigate tumultuous relationships and the unforgivable Bering Sea. Each book follows a different couple and can be read in any order.

Tropes:
Marriage in crisis
Forced proximity
Hurt x comfort
Brother’s best friend
Grumpy x sunshine
Second chance
Chronic pain
Found family

For a full list of content warnings, please visit my website (caution: they may contain spoilers).

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Second Chance, Found Family, Grief, Mental Health, Contemporary

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2026

About the author

Thea writes spicy romances about imperfect people haunted by inner demons and dark histories.

Whether it's a crumbling gothic mansion, the ocean at night, or a castle on a tidal island, her settings are as alive as any other character.

When she's not making her friends laugh, or her readers cry, she can be found reading, learning how to draw (very badly), or in nature.

For my Anti-AI policy, please visit https://theaverdone.com/ai-policy

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Reviews

[ya.]

Дуже болюча книжечка, моє серце розривалось за них всіх 💔
Я зла на авторку за те шо вона так зробила, але є в мене одна теорія то подивимось далі.
Я шось собі взагалі по іншому уявляла сюжет, не думала взагалі шо так буде 😭
Але рада таки що все добре закінчилось.
Фінн мій малюк я дуже сильно його полюбила. Та і хлопці по своєму цікаві. Хоча таки моїм улюбленцем став Морган. Він молодець.
Коула шкода звісно, але він чогось думав тільки за себе і як йому важко🥲
Також поділюсь тут своїми улюбленими цитатами.

«Він — якір, що тримає мене в безпеці, острів, за яким я ховаюся від шторму. Він — «Браєр», що вірно тримає мене на плаву, навіть коли мене кидає в безжальному океані.»

«Чинити йому опір — це як випасти за борт під час шторму. Я можу намагатися триматися на плаву, але за кілька хвилин, максимум п'ятнадцять, холод сповільнить мої захисні реакції, і я втоплюся в ньому.»

«— Я йду туди, куди йдеш ти, пам'ятаєш?
— Ти казав, що це дурне правило.
— Це і є дурне правило, але це правда. Навіть якщо ти завдаєш мені болю, навіть якщо розлучишся зі мною, навіть якщо єдиний спосіб бути поруч із тобою — це спогади в моїй голові, я йду туди, куди йдеш ти.»

Також дуже зацікавила наступна книга, тому вже дуже чекаю ❤️

[Kseniia ✨️]

4.5⭐

➸ ЧЧ роман
➸ Криза у шлюбі
➸ Горе та зцілення
➸ Disability/chronic pain rep

Звучить, як скарб, правда? Так воно і є. Це унікальна книга з надзвичайним поетичним стилем написання. Океан, ловці крабів та гнітюча, трохи сумна атмосфера. Але після бурі завжди сходить сонце. Так і в цій гірко-солодкій книжці.
Флешбеків (які я так люблю) про минуле хлопчиків не було, але в цій книзі вони і не потрібні. Адже фокус книги більше на майбутньому та переживанні певної травматичної події.
Обидва хлопчики сподобались, але я трохи зла на Коула. Ти ба який, вигнав Моргана.
Спайсі сцени гарячі, хоча іноді тут була моя неулюблена деградація. Та з іншого боку рада, що Коула заплювали, гівнюк заслужив😄
Чекаю наступну книгу, полюбилась мені знайдена родина хлопчиків❤️

[Andrew Smith-Mebust]

You all are not ready for this book.
I have never cried more in my life, I was literally crying dust because my tear ducts were dried out😂
Sad Tears✅
Happy Tears✅
Horny Tears✅
This book is special and not to be taken lightly. It’s EXTREMELY heavy and deals with TRAUMA, and how it affects not only the individual, but also everyone around you. It is the most hard won HEA book I’ve read to date. The reward at the end is worth it (I had to keep reminding myself this 😂). So, when this releases, and you’re ready, I hope you pick this book up and let it sweep you up into its endless depths💖 (sorry I had to, Lawrence would approve! IYKYK)

[Kateryna]

4.5

Such a gut wrenching book. I think it will hit especially hard for anyone who’s been in a long-term relationship. Some moments felt so painfully close to home that I was lying on the floor right alongside the main characters. Marriage is never easy, especially when you’ve been together for a long time (16 years and counting over here). People are different, and everyone deals with loss in their own way. Sometimes, though, the way you react can turn not only your own life into hell, but everyone else’s too.

This was such a heartbreaking story about loss, depression, and healing. I cried like a fool through most of the pages because some scenes hurt almost physically. I also really appreciated how clearly it showed that keeping a relationship together takes effort from both sides — it can’t be a one-sided effort. I completely understand Cole, but I also understand what Morgan was feeling after spending so long trying to get through to his husband.

People can say whatever they want, but love doesn’t heal everything. Sometimes it can actually make things worse, and if someone doesn’t want to be saved, there’s nothing anyone else can do for them. This is probably one of the hardest-earned HEAs I’ve ever read in this genre.

[Evelyn220]

DNF at 50% -This just felt too rushed for me. I didn’t feel any connection to Cole or Morgan before the parts that were supposed to be devastating. The events just didn’t hit for me because there was no rapport built. I needed more substance on the front end.
I think this story would have worked better with a few more chapters of Cole and Morgan together in the beginning and scenes with the brother and how they all loved each other. Without that, it all felt very surface level and cold.

[Whitney]

4.5 ⭐️
Cole + Morgan 🖤
Marriage in crisis | Crab Fishermen | Chronic pain rep

My first Thea book. I approve.
Now someone (Thea) get me Lawrence and Javi's book asap.


⚠️ potential spoilers below in detailed tropes, content and warning lists






Tropes/content:
Married couple
Crab fishermen
Marriage in crisis (doesn't start that way. Turns to crisis after a work tragedy)
Found family
17% - 6 months from the accident. Cole and Morgan have been separated for 3 months. Cole kicked Morgan out.
31% - back to one month after the accident
37% - present day
Degradation (lighter side)
Spitting
Chronic pain rep
Morgan is the only person that Cole has ever kissed or had sex with
They officially get back together around 75%
"Fuuuck, I missed you."
Emotional love making
Reverently kissing scars from the accident
Pet name "Sunshine"
Rimming
Strict roles
Cole and Morgan are raising Finn (Seb's son) and they all are taking part in grief counseling



Warnings/icks:
Mention of alcoholism
Mention of addiction
Emotionally abusive parent
Dangerous work environment
Dead parents
Near death experience - Cole gets hit by a flying sorting table in a big storm causing broken ribs, broken pelvis and internal bleeding. He then gets thrown overboard before they can move him. Morgan jumps in after him. His heart stops multiple times and he has to be shocked.
Hypothermia
Seb (Cole's brother and Morgan's friend) dies in the same storm that almost killed Cole
The grief of a 5 year old who lost his daddy
Survivors guilt
Neglectful childhood
Childhood trauma
Nightmares
"It should have been me that died"
"I deserve pain"

[HappilyEverReader]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book PUT ME THROUGH IT... and I couldn't get enough.

I read this in a single sitting and stayed up until an ungodly hour because I absolutely had to know how everything would work out for Morgan and Cole. The emotional torture of not knowing what would happen next was too much, so there was no way I was putting this book down before I reached the end.

One of the things I loved most about this story is that it's centered on an already-established married couple navigating unimaginable grief and loss. At the beginning of the book, Morgan and Cole are deeply in love. They share years of history, a profound connection, and truly feel like each other's first, last, and only love.

As husbands working aboard a Deadliest Catch-style crab fishing boat in the Bering Sea, they've built a life together. But when a sudden tragedy and a near-death experience rock the crew, everything changes. Their marriage, their future, and their ability to find their way back to each other are put to the ultimate test.

The emotional push and pull between Morgan and Cole after the accident absolutely wrecked me. Morgan's love for Cole never wavered, even when everything around them seemed to be falling apart. You could still see how much Cole loved Morgan, but the weight of his trauma and grief made it difficult for him to process anything beyond his own pain. There were moments when I wanted to shake him because he seemed so consumed by his own loss that he couldn't fully recognize the grief Morgan was carrying too.

And then Finn entered the picture, and I was completely undone at this little boy and how he brought Morgan and Cole back together.

Throughout it all, Morgan remained such a steady, loving presence. Watching these characters return to the boat was incredibly stressful—in the best possible way. My heart was constantly in my throat, wondering what disaster might strike next. The tension was relentless, but it made the payoff that much sweeter. What unfolded was a beautiful healing journey not only for Morgan and Cole, but for the entire crew. Cole's redemption arc was especially moving, and watching him confront his grief and fight his way back to the people he loved was incredibly rewarding. I was on edge until the very last page, desperately hoping these characters would find their way to the happily-ever-after they deserved, and the ending was everything I wanted it to be.

I almost never cry while reading, but I shed actual tears when Finn received the orca with Seb's voice recording. That scene completely broke me. It was such a perfect full-circle moment and a beautiful reminder that love endures even after loss. Seeing Morgan, Cole, and Finn build a new life together while honoring Seb's memory was both heartbreaking and hopeful.

I also appreciated that the story didn't treat healing as something that magically happens overnight. Morgan and Cole fully committed to doing the work, including therapy, and it made their journey feel authentic and earned.

This was an emotional, heart-wrenching, and ultimately beautiful story about love, grief, healing, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the people who matter most.

I am so excited to see where this series goes next. I'm hoping we'll get Javi and Lawrence's story because I am absolutely not ready to leave this world behind.

If you love emotional MM romance packed with angst, high-stakes drama, incredible character growth, and a plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat while simultaneously breaking your heart and putting it back together again, this one is a must-read.
Tropes:
• Established relationship / married couple
• Emotional angst
• Grief and healing
• Hurt/comfort
• Found family
• Redemption arc
• High-stakes setting
• Fishing boat / close quarters
• Therapy and emotional growth
• Hard-earned HEA

[AnnaKitt]

If you read Seven Minutes by Raquel Riley - it’s not like it.
But it is so very similar.
And I don’t mean that adding in a 5 yo kid and a great loss makes it more powerful, it just makes it a different kind of pain.
I have said it after Seven Minutes and I’m saying it again - after 12 years of a very difficult marriage and parenthood I am so deeply wrecked by this book, it’s like I’ve been crying through almost all of it.

So I don’t know if it’s only me, but marriage in crisis trope - I would have NEVER believed that I would say it, hurt me in these two books harder than any other has.


“Cole, I watched you go over the rail.
I dove headfirst into a death sentence to save you.
If you think you can throw away our marriage that easily, you’re mistaken.”

This is an amazingly beautiful book. I think it makes you cry because of how close to the heart it hits. Because of how real it feels.
Because we can all hate Cole all we want, but guilt is like trauma - it can’t be objective, fair or make sense, it is a deeply individual matter.

“You were my home.
You kept me safe while I slept, then you kicked me out, and changed the fucking locks.”

Yes, he was so very wrong, he didn’t only hurt Morgan and Finn, he hurt his entire crew; but the person he destroyed the most was himself.

“Once the sound of his engine fades, I turn off the light and crawl under the covers on his side of the bed. Then I lie awake for hours, wracked with guilt and pain. There’s a bottle of oxycodone in the bathroom, but I won’t take it. Pain is my punishment.”

It's those messy, painful, often terrible choices that make the story feel so real.

And Morgan isn't some endlessly forgiving saint either. He gets angry. He loses patience. He lashes out because that's what hurt people do.



“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to stop loving you.
But I promise you, husband of mine, I’ll fuck my way through as many people as it takes to forget the way you feel.”

THAT’S real. THAT hurts.
So so so much pain.
Such a complicated way back to yourself and to your family. Such a torturous struggle with guilt to finally be able to choose yourself 🥺

“This boat is claustrophobic as fuck, and there’s all these empty hours with nothing to do except miss you.
I spend half of the time talking myself out of taking out all my pain on you, and the other half trying not to cry.” 



And Finn 🥺 You already know how I feel about kids in romance books. So believe me when I say Finn became my favourite fictional child.
I think all of the scenes with him made me cry.
I can’t even begin to describe the way my heart was breaking for him 💔


This book is amazingly immersive. I don’t know how Thea did it, but by the end my heart hurt, my head hurt, and it honestly felt like I'd lived every single moment alongside them.

And all of the characters truly are stunning, but Lawrence and Javi have stolen a piece of my heart and I can’t wait for their book now 💙

[-`♡´-]

♾️⭐

This was such an emotional rollercoaster. I feel like I was the one being thrashed by 50-foot waves and sucked into a typhoon. I teared up so much and ofc, cried at the end. This might be the most emotionally in-depth book I've read this year and perhaps, last.

Second chance within a marriage might be a trope I didn't know I liked so much.

Also, love a good commercial fishing/crabbing background. It definitely adds to the heightened intensity overall.

I'm so glad in the end, Morgan and Cole came back together.

I can't wait for the next in the series, to read about Javi and Lawerence. I think that is going to be just as wild of a ride but in a whole different way.

[Brenna Mobley]

Endless Depths - Thea Verdone
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (♾️)
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️

🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊

Tropes :
🌊 marriage in crisis
🦀 second chance romance
🌊 brothers best friend
🦀 forced proximity
🌊 hurt x comfort
🦀 grumpy x sunshine
🌊 chronic pain representation

🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊🦀🌊

Review:
This broke me in every single way possible, and I’d do it over and over again willingly. The absolute heartbreak watching how perfect and sweet they were to where they are in the present, how much it hurt to watch the accident and the aftermath. My sweet Morgan holding on and holding everything together with no reprieve, and Cole who just wants to sit in his pain and sorrow and grief and suffer. I loved watching them claw their way back to each other and begin to heal their wounds together. Easily a top 3 read of the year.





A full review will come waaaay later.

Thank you Thea for entrusting me with another of your babies to beta read. This broke and healed me in the best way. Officially dethroned NLNL as my favorite Thea book.

[Mal]

Infinity Stars!! This book is extraordinary. The way it tackles the themes of grief, relationship rupture, repair, family, physical trauma - it shows you how one moment has this ripple that upends time and everyone is then stuck there.

I am truly blown away by how visual this book is, how immersive, I was on the boat in Bearing Sea and I was on land feeling the aftermath, the fear the grief the repair the joy. I am also awed by Finn.. what an absolutely phenomenal little guy.

Now the parts that hurt the most - Cole, Morgan how can you not love them both of them. These characters are complex and their choices could be applauded or judged but they are human. My heart broke for them, no matter how strong something is , how fated, how connected - sometimes sh1t happens and you have to claw your way back to a relationship that’s then stronger for it. Thea handled this path beautifully , leaving nothing hidden, nothing off page, totally bared and raw

She also addressed the wider circle of relationships with the found family, how those were rebuilt.

The pacing is smooth, sharp and gripping, I read it one go until the end where I dragged it out cause I didn’t want it to finish 🤣 

Also I have to mention some parts that really stuck with me:

1. “Wait” - Cole 😭
2. Morgan’s resilience
3. Everything about Seb 😭😭
4. Morgan and Kent’s call signs
5. Law and Javi
6. Javi working on Cole
7. Cole and Morgan laying there holding hands when all is lost
8. Finn being so brave with his big beautiful heart
9. Their video calls after school
10. Morgan making Cole fight
11. The unexplained presence that saved them a second time - I love that Thea always gives us something more to believe in
12. The absolutely phenomenal world building of crab fishing - I cannot stress this enough it is impeccable

[Cella Oreta]

4.75 ⭐️ 1.75 🌶️

LISTEN HERE EVERYONE.! I AM UNWELL 😩😩😩 YOU SHOULD BE PANICKING!!! PANIC I SAY!!!! THE ONLY OTHER BOOK TO ALMOST MAKE ME CRY WAS HEAD ABOVE WATER!!! AND NOW THIS ONE HAD THE AUDACITY TO TRY ME!!!

this was absolutely everything I could ask for in a marriage in crisis romance riddled with grief and character healing. GOD DAMNIT THE TENSION HERE WAS NO JOKE! Also the way Thea literally said “I’m throwing your ass into the deep end, no life jacket, no life preservers, NOTHING!” Cause wow the pain starts early and it’s DEEP FRIENDS! I take things deep BUT WARN ME SO I CAN PREPARE, FUCK! 🫡

Cole and Morgan had such a perfect marriage and the trials that went through was just WOW! And their constant fight back to each other??? The push and pull? Like it was soo intense that I started cracking dad jokes to my kindle 😥. I felt so pained for these two clawing their way through grief that tested their love for each other..watching Cole be put through the ringer was just so tragic and the honest and constant healing process was so impactful BUT MORGAN! The man you are sir!!! 🥵🥵🥵

This absolutely unlocked a deep desire for more marriage in crisis because this just hit so different watching two people who want to be together and better themselves through difficult and loss was PHENOMENAL 🤩🤩🤩

So much here was just utter perfection!! The supporting characters- DELICIOUSLY different and added to such a fun bonus family! (I NEED JAVI AND LAWERENCES BOOK!) the spice was amazing! THE PLOT WAS EVERYTHING! Ugh I wish this was 5,972,827 pages long because I want more 🥺

GIVE ME MORE 😈😈😈

[Sarah]

3.5⭐️

So, this is the story of Cole and Morgan who are crab fishermen and also married. A tragedy strikes their life which leave their marriage in shambles. So we go with them on the journey of finding each other again.

I was so torn up on rating and reviewing this book because it was such an anticipated read for me, and I won't say I was left disappointed, but I did expect more. Sigh😮‍💨

- I was crying non stop from 13-15%. Then, I cried few more times throughout the book, mostly where Finn/Seb are involved. So, this book did make me emotional at some parts.

- I really liked the crab fishing setting and everything that's fishing/boat related. It was actually very interesting to read about

- Solid writing. I personally like a writing style that can be flowery and kinda poetic. So, I really liked the writing here.

- I liked the side characters. They were part of the story but not in overwhelming and annoying way. Lawrence is so funny with his foul mouth.

- I loved Finn, cus how could I not, and the video calls after school.

- The springer with the recording broke me.

- Finn calling them "daddy"

- I loved that Morgan was Cole's first everything. I'm not sure that Cole was Morgan's first, but I got the feeling that he was.


What did not quite work of me:

- I didn't like the non-linear timelines and time jumps. Like we go present --> 6 months after tragedy --> present --> 1 month after tragedy --> present.
The timeline didn't also make sense to me because 1 month after tragedy, things appear good between Cole and Morgan. But in the 6 months timeline, Cole suddenly has kicked Morgan out and changed the locks. There was no buildup leading to the separation. So for me, it felt like it came out of the blue.

- I had a problem with the spice. Don't get me wrong, the spice is hot. But for me personally and with this kind of story, I don't want dirty talk and edging and whatnot, I prefer more of calm intimate scenes. I don't want that almost every time they see each other, one of them or both get hard and the situation turns sexual either in thoughts or acts. I do understand that sometimes you have to rely on the physical to reconnect, and in their case with Cole being an emotional idiot, sex looked like the only option, but again for me personally, that sex could have been without the dirty talk and slight degradation and so forth.

- The scene and the convo where OM were mentioned felt icky to me, and it felt so out of place/character. Morgan saying "“Maybe I’ll sink my teeth into your ass, and break the skin, do the same to your inner thighs, so the next man you give your hole to knows who you belong to” and "For all I know, your hole is sloppy with another man's cum" and “But I promise you, husband of mine, I’ll fuck my way through as many people as it takes to forget the way you feel.”
Like I know they haven't been with another and won't be, and that's exactly why this talk threw me off in a weird way.

- I got whiplash from their attitude. They would say that they were done, but then some tension/sexual act take place, and then they would go apart again. Like one moment Morgan is fighting for Cole and Cole pushing him away, then Morgan saying he's done fighting and even Cole kicking him out, then we have the text exchange where Cole is giving hints of wanting Morgan back and sending kissing emojis. Then when they see each other next, they are flirting and touching sexually. Like I was so confused on what's happening and it prevented me from fully connecting to their heartbreak of being apart.

- I wish we got more moments of them before tragedy. Maybe also, how they came to be together. I was thrown in the middle where they are already established, and then quickly them breaking apart. I didn't have time to live their love. and Thus, them getting back together didn't hit as strongly. I'm not saying that I doubt that they love each other, but I personally didn't get a chance to feel their love. Thus, I couldn't be fully connected to their story nor did I fully feel the connection between them.

- Adding on my previous point of not fully connecting with them. I got a personal whiplash of emotions while reading. I would be totally immersed and emotional/crying and connecting to what's happening, then the next scene or few, I would get disconnected from the story. So, it felt like I was going in and out of the story.

- Cole's sudden awakening also came out of the blue. Like one moment he is an asshole to everyone, and then the next, he is apologizing. I wish we could have more of progressive journey of him "finding himself" again.

- I don't usually compare books but I recently read "Seven Minutes," which is also a book about a marriage in crisis. And if you read my review of that book, you'll know how much that story affected me from the first word until the last. I was able to feel every moment of their time apart, every moment of them finding their way back to each other, every moment of their love, every moment of their heartbreak. There was not a single moment that I wasn't fully experiencing, heart, body and soul. I wanted this book to give me the same or similar experience, but it didn't quite reach that high for me.

Now, with all that being said and despite my complaints, I can't say that this book is bad or not worth reading. On the contrary, I did enjoy reading it, I got emotional at some parts. I had no doubt that they love each other, and I was happy that they found their way back to each other, where they belong.
It is a beautifully written story despite my personal hangups.


“If the sea tries to take you, I’ll drain the ocean to save you.”

“I’m so fucking sick of fighting for us, for fighting for you when you won’t fight for me at all. Fucking fight for me!”

“Knowing what you know now, would you still marry me?” Morgan asks.
“I would.” No consideration necessary. “What about you?”
As soon as I ask, I wish I hadn’t. I wouldn’t blame him if his answer changed.
His hand stills. “I’d marry you over and over again, Cole. No matter how much it hurts.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”

[Joyfully Jay]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

When this book opened, it had a bit of a story-in-progress feel for me. Cole and Morgan have been married for years and they have a whole history. They own the fishing boat, along with Cole’s brother, Seb, and they are just heading out on a trip when tragedy strikes early in the book. The fallout is immense and intense and there is no end to the grief everyone carries.

A good portion of the book is Cole and Morgan dealing with PTSD, grief, and recovery. The book does that well, but the middle portion didn’t come together for me like I believe it was intended. Then, while the story was wrapped up, the final scene seemed abrupt to me. I liked so much of this book, but then there were areas that didn’t quite pull together for me. The portrayal of life on the boat and grief was well done and I’m looking forward to joining Cole and Morgan again in the next book.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[queerromancereads ♡]

Deeply moving. Set against the eerie backdrop of a ship at sea, two fishermen fight their way through a fog of despair to save their marriage. The stakes are high and the atmosphere is haunting and inescapable.

Meaningful and intense. This is a book that will make you feel— that will pull you in alongside Morgan and Cole to experience the suffocating weight of despair, the claustrophobic frustration of staring down your demons and lingering warmth of a small spark of hope.

[Tamara]

This books shows really well that hurt people hurt people. It’s messy. I had compassion for both MMCs. Cole feeling he can’t have what he desperately wants is heartbreaking….and how that made him act….It was high angst every time they went out to sea as the author did well showing how dangerous the job of a fisherman is. The whole sea is my mistress thing. I cried multiple times and I don’t think that’s ever happened to me before. I felt perhaps it was tied up too nearly at the end but that’s still ok.

[Stephanie Keijzer]

Beautifull story about loss, grief and healing💙

[Juliette Harden]

✨Rating: 3 ⭐'s
🫧Vibes: MM romance, second chance, grief, mental health, forced proximity, grumpy sunshine
💕Favorite Quotes: "If the sea tries to take you, I'll drain the ocean to save you." They say still waters run deep, but Morgan's depths are endless, and even though the ocean is stronger, I believe him.

Would I recommend: NOOOOO......Because COLE can KISS MY ASS

💭Thoughts: Morgan was a 5 ⭐ character for me in this book. He could absolutely do NO wrong. and then you have his husband (and I say husband with the utmost disdain to my tone)! I liked him in the beginning and then certain circumstances happened and oh did my like for him turn and I mean it turned so much so, that I even HATED the ending to this book. I usually love a good happy ending and this one just PISSED ME OFF. Morgan was the sweetest man who absolutely adored his husband and when shit hit the fan and I understand grief but not to the extent that Cole took it. I could not wrap my head around what was happening. I just couldn't.

The sad part about this book is that it had my emotions all over the place and I usually say well damn that's a good book if it can make me feel this way and I'm over here crying.......BUT.......No, just no.

MORGAN DESERVED BETTER AND SO DID THE NEPHEW (POOR BABIES)

[Lexica]

I lost count of how many times I cried over this book. This is so heartbreaking. I was literally sobbing while reading this. This is a story about grief, healing, reconnecting, and rebuilding a relationship that almost broke. This is about grief and loss, but also about love, hope, and finding your way back to each other. The journey was not easy, but it was all worth it in the end.

After experiencing a near-death experience, Morgan and Cole's marriage was hanging by a thread. Cole started distancing himself from his family, his friends, and even from his husband, Morgan. What Cole went through was deeply traumatizing, to the point where he couldn't forgive himself for what happened. He was hurt both physically and mentally. He carried all the burden himself, believing that he didn't deserve to live. We can see through Cole's eyes how much he blamed himself and how unworthy he felt. It was truly heartbreaking.

I didn't blame him for what he did to his family and friends, though. What he felt was valid. He just needed time to heal and find himself again, and it was a really hard journey.

And Morgan... I cried with him when Cole was fighting for his life. Everything Morgan said to Cole really touched my heart. He loves Cole so, so much, and it hurts seeing Morgan stay by Cole's side during the hardest moments of his life. He was so sweet, patient, and understanding towards Cole. Morgan never once blamed Cole for what happened. He kept helping Cole through his grief, even when he knew Cole wasn't in the best place mentally. He never gave up on Cole, no matter what.

And don't even get me started on Seb and Finn. Oh my God. Finn was literally my favorite kid. He was just a kid, but he had the bravest and biggest heart. He was sad, he was hurting, but he was still the one who made things a little better with how understanding he was. I think I cried during every Finn scene.

As for Seb, I have no words. He was such a good man. He earned the respect of Cole and the whole crew. He was such a great brother and father. And all the Briar Anteros crew... I loved every single one of them. Their bond was so strong, I just couldn't hate anyone in this book.

And the orcas and the recording... they finished me. I cried until I could barely catch my breath. 😭

I love this book. So much. This is easily one of my favorite books I've read.

I can really see how guilt and grief can change people drastically. But with a good support system and professional help, hopefully, people can find their way through it. It also reminded me how important it is to understand and support people who are struggling and need professional help.

[Bernice Reads]

✎Thea really said look at what I’ve got for you readers,a big pot of survivors guilt mixed with a lot of grief,heartache and pain both emotionally and physically with a dash of sadness and anger,stirred fried in a chaotic but loving found family and an added sweetness of a beautiful child who will melt your heart and soul.hehe

✎The book is an emotional roller coaster of grief,guilt,love,loss and surviving tragedy and trauma,physically,mentally and emotionally.It delves deeper into the world of guilt,pain grief,suffering and pain of being the one who was saved,the one who was “lucky” but what is survival when you are plagued by fear,guilt and the burden of loss and grief,that you start building a wall of hurt around yourself and keep the people who love outside your walls.

✎As much as the story is about loss and guilt,it’s also about love and care,it’s about understanding and being able to be there for the person you love through their hard times,it’s about seeing them lose themselves,close themselves off,hurt themselves and loving them anyways,it’s about fighting for the person you love and never give up even when it’s becomes difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel,it’s about a love that never shakes or breaks,it might bend a little but it’s always standing strong and unmovable.

✎An amazing written story about a married couple and their struggle with guilt,loss and grief that feels like a strong waves of sadness determined to sink their love but they anchor themselves with patience,understanding and care and in the end their love withstood every battle.

✎If you love a chaotic but loving found family,experience one of the sweetest and kindest kid you will ever read about,join in on a crab fishing adventure with fishermen with different character traits you will love and a beautiful couple you will love then this book is definitely for you.

🦀Marriage In Crisis
🛟Forced Proximity
🦀Brother’s Best Friend
🛟Second Chance
🦀Grumpy X Sunshine
🛟Hurt/Comfort
🦀Chronic Pain
🛟Found Family
🦀Bi-Sexual Rep

[Heather O'Dell]

Devastatingly Beautiful… Endless Depths by Thea Verdone had me ugly crying numerous times!

Morgan is married to Cole. Cole is the younger brother of Seb, captain and co-owner of the crab boat Briar Anteros with Cole and Morgan. Cole adores his older brother, but doesn’t believe he compares at all. He feels like he is incompetent, but he tries hard. Seb raised Cole, as his father, the former captain of the Briar Anteros, was neglectful and abusive, so the two are incredibly close.

Morgan was a friend of the family whose own parents abandoned him in childhood. He was taken in by Cole and Seb’s father and raised with the boys, working the Briar Anteros with them. Over time, Morgan realized that he was bisexual and attracted to Cole, and the two of them started what anyone would agree was a perfect romance, and eventually marriage. And they had one rule: I go where you go.

Throw into the mix sweet four-year-old Finn, Seb’s son, whose mom died of an overdose shortly after Finn was born. Seb is raising Finn with Shay, Finn’s aunt.

When tragedy strikes, and Seb is killed at sea, Cole retreats into guilt, shame, and chronic pain, turning into a different person and leaving Morgan to raise Finn alone and to figure out how to pick up the pieces of the life he thought he knew.

Can Cole ever forgive himself for what happened on the Briar Anteros? Can Morgan move on as the love of his life suffers and shuts him out? How will the two men work together on the Briar Anteros, which they now own together?

This deeply emotional story captivated from the first pages and then catapulted me through all of my emotions. From breathless moments to steamy scenes, from caring touches to searing words of anger, I went through it with Cole, Morgan, and Finn. And let me tell you, it’s a hard fought ending that left me totally satisfied.

Thea writes in a way that allows us to feel what the characters are experiencing, and that’s what is making a 5-star book for me these days. Endless Depths is available now and is an amazing read.

[Kerri Rutana]

I honestly don’t even think I can start this review without tearing up. Thea this book, like your other books, puts me through an emotional wringer. It was devastatingly beautiful. I think I teared up, or outright cried more than I didn’t. Reading the first page and seeing how much Morgan and Cole loved each other, I knew that it was going to be a hard road. Learning about both men’s backstory throughout the book is heartbreaking. And both men losing the one person who was always there for them, devastating. How both men navigated their grief was hard to read, especially Cole. I can’t get into it too much, even though I really want to but that would give too much away. Everyone needs to experience this book for themselves. I read this book in one sitting, I could not put it down, I had to know they were going to make it. The way Thea describes the emotions throughout the book had me feeling what they were going through as well. This book has pain, hurt, love, growth, found family, and a hard earned HEA. I cannot wait to see more from this series, I need to know what’s going on with certain best friends! Thanks Thea for allowing me to read an advanced copy. Your books are always devastatingly beautiful and I’m so here for it!!

[Joana Pozo]

Review of an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) received from the author.

“I go where you go. That’s the rule.”

This book was an emotional roller coaster. I honestly can’t remember how many times I cried—I think it was throughout the entire book. I was completely hooked from beginning to end. The characters were beautifully written, flaws and all.

Cole is a character carrying so much pain, struggling to find a way out of the darkness surrounding him. Morgan is simply beautiful. He loves with such devotion and intensity that he would literally do anything for his husband.

Este es un romance sobre un matrimonio en crisis. Duele el alma descubrir cómo llegaron a ese punto, pero cuando finalmente vuelven a encontrarse, sientes una inmensa tranquilidad.

I'm a big fan of Thea Verdone. Every one of her books offers something different, and that's exactly what keeps me coming back.

Gracias a la autora por darme la oportunidad de leer este ARC

[Rach]

I feel super disconnected from the characters. The book is written as though we’ve known them for years and should root for them while establishing no rapport

[Ally]

Oh how I love a good marriage in crisis book. It's one of my favorite tropes. The angst, the tension, the groveling, the pining. I eat it up every time. This book was a great example of what I love most about that trope. Endless Depths portrays the struggle of being married while suffering from mental health issues. Sometimes the love you share with your partner isn't enough to bring you back to the surface. Greif and loss of a loved one is a heavy theme and it was handled tastefully.

I am SO EXCITED for the next book! It's going to hurt and I am beyond excited about that LOL.

[Sophie]

Definitely a book about grief but I didn’t actually connect with the characters beyond feeling sad for them the whole book. Also this one starts a little weird and jumps timelines a little awkwardly. But still hit the sad notes. And now I’m curious about book two

[D.G. Holloway]

Wow... Where do I even start?

This book absolutely put me through it.

From the very first pages, I was completely invested in Cole and Morgan's story. The love they have for one another shines off the page, and even though I'd only just met them, I could feel the years of history, devotion, and love between them. I should have known Morgan's damn premonitions were going to rip my heart out and feed it to the seagulls.

My. God.

I'd call this a page-turner, but I'd be lying, only because I had to keep stopping whenever I could no longer see the words through my tears. When I say I accumulated a mountain of snotty tissues beside me, I'm not exaggerating. This book gave everything it had emotionally, and I loved every devastating second of it.

The characters felt so incredibly real. There were moments I wanted to shake every single one of them, including Morgan (despite his enormous heart and fierce devotion to his husband) and beg him to let go of that stubborn pride. And Cole. Ugh, Cole. I don't even know how to unpack the complicated, layered trauma he carried or the heartbreaking reasons he believed he had to shoulder his grief alone as punishment. They frustrated me, they broke me, they made me fall in love with them all over again because they felt so achingly human.

However, this isn't just a book that hurts. It's also full of warmth, hope, and some genuinely funny moments. The friendships are beautiful. Found family who show up for one another through the absolute worst life can throw at them and never stop choosing each other. And little Finn... don't even get me started. If you're a parent, you'll be hugging your babies a little tighter after this one.

The writing itself is absolute butter. The pacing, the emotional depth, the dialogue, it all flowed effortlessly. I knew next to nothing about the fishing industry before picking this up, but the amount of research and detail woven into the story was incredible. Thea doesn't just tell you about life on the boat, she drops you right into it. Every scene felt immersive without ever slowing the story down.

Without a doubt, this is a five-star read and one of my favorite books of the year. Heartbreaking stories are my favorite kind, and this one absolutely delivered. It shattered me, stitched me back together, and left me thinking about these characters long after I turned the final page. I'll definitely be reading it again... just after I've had a little more time to emotionally recover.

Biggest of thank you’s to Thea Verdone for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Bravo, well done!

[Marley Wright]

Review of advanced copy


• This book was fantastic
• The writing was vivid and atmospheric, which worked well for both visualizing different scenes and really getting a sense of the emotions each character was experiencing
• And since the couple was already established, It also aided in making their relationship seem genuine
• The side characters were distinct and well fleshed out, and the way they interacted felt like a real, established family which was fun to read about
• I enjoyed the really nuanced exploration of chronic pain and the trauma that comes after an accident—as a person who hasn’t experienced it first hand, I felt it gave a lot of insight into what it can be like
• The storyline itself had many ups and downs and went back and forth, which I think helped a lot in showing how messy and nonlinear the healing process can be
• Overall, the story was such a testament to the power of love, healing, friendship, family, and forgiveness

[Crex]

Is this what marriage in crisis is supposed to look like? Because I'm obsessed with this book.

I genuinely can't remember the last time I read about a marriage going through a crisis this well. Cole and Morgan, you will be remembered.

The way everything was handled... the grief, the pain, the healing was so beautifully done. I actually cried, and yeah... safe to say I finally have a "made me cry" recommendation for this year.

I loved Morgan and Cole's relationship. Watching Morgan do everything he could to be there for Cole while carrying his own grief was heartbreaking and beautiful. Then there was Finn. Morgan basically had to step up and be the father Finn needed while Cole wasn't emotionally ready, and my heart broke for all of them.

But can we talk about how happy I was when Morgan finally decided he'd had enough? I was cheering because Cole was really testing my patience with the way he treated both Morgan and Finn. I thought, "Yes! Stand up!" only for Morgan to last approximately two business minutes before the next chapter had him giving Cole a massage to help him relax. 🤣 Did he even try to give up?

But honestly, I think that's what I loved most. You can stop chasing someone without stopping yourself from caring about them. Morgan never stopped loving Cole, even when he needed to protect himself, and that felt so real.

I loved the side characters too. Lawless is officially my favorite, and I cannot wait for his relationship with Javi. Also I'm still choosing to believe Seb was rescued and just has amnesia. 😭😭 I know, I know... but a girl can dream.

And that epilogue!! Perfect. Watching Cole finally choose to be brave enough to go to therapy was such a satisfying ending. Lovely.

[Jade]

This book genuinely hurt my feelings.

Morgan and Cole’s love felt so pure and real, which made everything they went through even harder to read. The emotional push and pull between them after the accident was so painful. Morgan never stopped loving Cole, while Cole was so consumed by his grief and trauma that he struggled to see how much Morgan was hurting too. There were definitely moments when I wanted to shake him.

I also absolutely adored Finn. He was such a sweet boy and my heart hurt so much for him. I loved how he was such an important part of Morgan and Cole’s journey back to each other.

Also, Lawrence… I absolutely loved him and I’m so excited to get more of his story and relationship with Javi.

“I go where you go. That’s the rule.”

“You packed away us!”

"I want him, but i don't want that for him. I don't deserve him. And I'm scared."